Celosia plant named ‘Spitenz Dark’

ABSTRACT

A  Celosia  plant named ‘Spitenz Dark’ characterized by its many dark purple colored spikes, prolific branching, foliage from the bottom to the top of the plant, a compact and symmetrical plant habit, and a response time of approximately 7.5 weeks is disclosed.

Genus and species: Celosia argentea.

Variety denomination: ‘Spitenz Dark’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Celosiaplant, botanically known as Celosia argentea, and hereinafter referredto by the variety name ‘Spitenz Dark’. This new variety produces manymedium sized spikes with dark purple colored individual blooms and ablooming period of about eight weeks.

The new variety ‘Spitenz Dark’ is a naturally occurring sport from theunpatented Celosia variety ‘Innovo’. The new and distinct variety wasdiscovered and selected as a single plant in a greenhouse in Monster,The Netherlands in May 2013.

The new variety ‘Spitenz Dark’ was first asexually reproduced byterminal vegetative cuttings in a greenhouse in Monster, The Netherlandsin August 2013 and has been asexually reproduced for one and a halfyears. The new variety ‘Spitenz Dark’ has been found to retain itsdistinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticulturalpractices in Monster, The Netherlands.

-   -   1. Dark purple spiked-type inflorescences having an abundance of        spikes on each branch;    -   2. Prolific branching;    -   3. Compact symmetrical plant habit; and    -   4. Foliage located all over the stem to the bottom of the plant.

COMPARISON WITH THE PARENT VARIETY

The new variety ‘Spitenz Dark’ differs from parent variety in having adarker flower color.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

The new variety ‘Spitenz Dark’ differs from the commercial Celosia‘Spitenz’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,076 in that ‘Spitenz Dark’ is a morecompact plant. Further, the new variety ‘Spitenz Dark’ has a darkerflower color and has broader and shorter spikes than ‘Spitenz’. The newvariety ‘Spitenz Dark’ has foliage that is narrower and slightly smallerthan that of ‘Spitenz’ and a flowering response time that isapproximately one week longer than the response time of ‘Spitenz’.

The new variety ‘Spitenz Dark’ can also be compared to Celosia ‘SpitenzLipstick’ patent pending, filed concurrently having application Ser. No.14/999,491. ‘Spitenz Dark’ produces darker colored flowers. Further, thenew variety ‘Spitenz Dark’ has shorter flowering spikes on average than‘Spitenz Lipstick’. The new variety ‘Spitenz Dark’ produces lessflowering spikes per plant than ‘Spitenz Lipstick’. Peduncles and stemsof ‘Spitenz Dark’ are colored near yellow-Green 146C, compared toRed-Purple 58A appearing on ‘Spitenz Lipstick’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Celosia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show blooms and foliage of the plant. The colors shown are as trueas can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.The photographs are of a plant that has been in bloom for approximately3 weeks.

FIG. 1 shows the plant habit including the foliage and inflorescences ofthe new variety.

FIG. 2 is a close-up of the new variety ‘Spitenz Dark’, showingindividual spikes and inflorescences per branch.

FIG. 3 is a close-up of the upper and under surfaces of the leaves ofthe new variety ‘Spitenz Dark’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Spitenz Dark’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inMonster, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on un-pinchedplants of 8 to 10 weeks old, which were grown in 10 cm pots in agreenhouse in Monster, The Netherlands under controlled day length andtemperatures. Growth retardants were used weekly. The color readingswere determined under natural light. Color references are to The R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 1995Edition.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Celosia argentea.        -   Common name.—Cockscomb, Woolflower, Feathery Amaranth.        -   Denomination.—‘Spitenz Dark’.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Upright, slightly upwardly spreading annual.        -   Growth rate.—Rapid.        -   Height.—28.0 to 32.0 cm (using weekly growth retardant).        -   Width.—20.0 to 25.0 cm (using weekly growth retardant).-   Branches:    -   -   Stem.—Color: RHS 146C (Green). Strength: Strong.            Brittleness: Branches are not brittle. Cross section: Round.            Texture: Smooth, no significant ribs.-   Anthocyanin coloration: Present at nodes, near RHS Red-Purple 59A.    -   -   Length of lateral branch (from top to bottom).—13.0 cm to            20.0 cm.        -   Diameter of lateral branch.—0.5 cm.        -   Lateral branch color.—RHS 146C (Green).        -   Lateral branch attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Branching.—Average number of lateral branches: Prolific,            with 4 to 8 breaks after pinching.-   Leaves:    -   -   Type.—Single, simple.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A (Green and partially turning            RHS 59A (Red-Purple) with age). Lower surface: RHS 147B            (Green). Veins: RHS 45B (Red).        -   Size.—General: Medium.        -   Immature foliage.—Length: 9.5 cm. Width: 1.5 cm.        -   Mature foliage.—Length: 14.0 cm. Width: 4.0 cm.        -   Quantity per lateral branch.—12 to 16.        -   Shape.—Cordiform.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery. Lower surface: Leathery.        -   Petiole.—        -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 146A flushed with anthocyanin near            Red-Purple 59A.        -   Length.—0.5 cm.        -   Width.—0.1 cm.        -   Venation arrangement.—Pinnate.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Many small individual tubular flowers on a spiked-type            inflorescence.        -   Height.—1 week old spike: 2.5 to 3.5 cm. 3 week old spike:            4.0 to 5.0 cm.        -   Width.—Mature spike approximately 1.5 to 2 cm at widest            point.        -   Number of spikes per branch.—Approximately 11 per branch.        -   Number of flowers per spike.—1 week old spike: Approximately            65 to 75. 3 week old spike: Approximately 90 to 110.        -   Inflorescence lastingness on the plant (blooming period).—8            weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Discoloration to color.—None.        -   Peduncle.—Length: 1.0 cm to 2.0 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm. Color:            RHS 146C (green).        -   Response time.—7.5 weeks.-   Florets:    -   -   Number of petals per floret.—5.        -   Petal texture (both surfaces).—Papery, glabrous.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—0.5 cm.        -   Width.—0.1 cm.        -   Color.—(Both surfaces): RHS 72A (Red-Purple).-   Floral bracts: Not Present.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen.—Width: Very thin, 0.05 cm. Color: RHS 72A            (Red-Purple). Pollen amount: Sparse; appears at a very late            stage. Pollen color: RHS 155A (White).        -   Pistil.—Style appearance: Very fine, linear. Style color:            RHS 72A (Red-Purple). Style length: 0.6 cm. Stigma color:            RHS 72A (Red-Purple). Stigma width: 0.1 cm.-   Other characteristics:-   Fruit/seed set: Not observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Typical to known Celosia varieties. Neither    resistance nor susceptibility to the normal diseases and pests of    Celosia have been observed. Pests common to Celosia include Aphids    and thrips. Typical diseases are Botrytis and Pythium.-   Temperature tolerance: 5° C. to 38° C.-   Drought tolerance: No tolerance for drought.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Celosia plant named‘Spitenz Dark’ as described and shown herein.